Why NFL Legend Ed Reed Invested In A Hologram Emoji Startup

Mojiit, a tech startup that will enable users to project 3D hologram emojis via smartphones, announced that it has closed an angel funding round led by former Baltimore Ravens All-Pro safety Ed Reed. According to Inc., Reed will contribute $250,000 of the $1 million that Mojiit is to receive from the investment group.

Reed explained to SportTechie how he originally connected with Mojiit creator Jeremy Greene, saying, “I met Jeremy in L.A. at a house party hosted prior to a charity golf event that he and his company sponsored in 2014. Jeremy and I have kept in touch since we met years ago. He sent me some videos of his new tech and his ideas; my team and I took it from there to me being an investor today.”

Greene commented on his partnership with Ed Reed saying, “The sports industry will be a very big play for us. Ed brings a lot of strategic play to the table: one, he can help us bring in a lot of NFL stars to help get licensing deals. Each sports player and celebrity will have their own custom packs of animations. Ed is also helping bringing a lot of top advertisers to the table.”

Greene was a co-founder of the social network application PingTank. Reed explained his main reasons for getting involved, saying, “Part one is Jeremy and his background. He’s had a big win in this space so it’s about him, in part.” Reed went on to credit the tech as another main attraction, crediting the rapid use of emojis in messaging. Reed, who uses emojis in his own conversations, believes “this is the next evolution of communication.”

Mojiit is one of the first companies to combine hologram viewing technology with emojis, the popular mobile device ideogram. Greene described the vision for his product as a “bitmoji in hologram form.” Mobile device users can project holograms that appear 3D, showing emojis and customizable emoji styles. According to the Mojiit website, “Every piece of clothing is customizable and interchangeable from your favorite pair of yeezys.”

Greene added in his interview with Inc. that users “will be able to wear their favorite football attire or NBA jerseys. Mojiit also plans to make exact replicas of their favorite sports stars.” While big brand partnerships seem to be a big part of Mojiit’s business plan, Greene also has visions of forming special “packs” that users can purchase that resemble their favorite pop star or athlete.

While Greene has worked with many different people in the entertainment industry, this was the first time he had worked with athletes before.

“I have a lot of athlete friends,” Greene told SportTechie. “It was the first time that I have actually gotten into that space.”

When asked about why he was excited to work with Reed, Greene said he was drawn to his personality. Reed commented similarly when asked about Greene as a business partner, expressing that “his passion is always a bonus.”

While Greene has made waves in the social media industry before with PingTank, he shared his elation for his new project, saying, “It’s exciting to once again be on the forefront of new technology and ideas with Mojiit.”